Plant of the month - Garlic (autumn planting)

It is time to get ahead by planting garlic cloves for an early harvest next year. One of the easiest vegetables to grow, garlic can be sown in the spring but overwintering seems to suit it really well, providing the soil isn’t waterlogged.

Garlic is sold as bulbs which need to be split into individual clove then planted where they will get plenty of sun- about 8 inches (20cm) apart, with the pointed end up, about 1 inch (2.5cm) deep. The cloves should be deep enough so that the tops are not showing above the soil as the birds might be tempted to pull them out. A little sprinkling of potassium-based fertiliser is helpful or even some wood ash. Watering isn’t usually a problem in the winter but in the new year, if the weather is dry, they will need keeping moist.

Full of benefits for the heart and the immune system, garlic is an essential part of many dishes. There are 2 main types: hard neck and soft neck. Contrary to what one might think, the soft neck varieties store best. Autumn planted varieties are ready in July and can store in a cool dry place until Christmas and beyond.

Here are some varieties to try that are suited to the British climate :
Soft Neck - Solent Wight, Germidour, Provence Wight
Hard neck - Edenrose, Carcassonne Wight, Lautrec Wight

You might have guessed that there is a big garlic grower on the Isle of Wight.

There is also a giant garlic which might be fun to try - Elephant Garlic.